Backbone Broadcast Announces "Turnkey" Internet Radio Hosting Service

With Integrated Automation Software included

(Las Vegas, NAB 2005; April 18, 2005) Backbone Networks Corporation today announced the availability of an Internet hosting service targeted specifically toward streaming media, including radio and television broadcasting. Designed to seamlessly integrate with the Company's full-featured production and automation software, the hosting service, called Backbone Broadcast, includes a free license to Backbone Radio Pro client studio software. The target market for this service is start-up stations that require scalability of audience size, as well as full control of content, including audio, images, text annotation and commercial advertising/sales.

This client-server service replicates the studio-transmitter model of a conventional radio or television station. Where the hosting service acts as the transmitter to the Internet, at the client station's studio all broadcasting and control functions are performed from a low cost desktop computer.

The Backbone Broadcast hosting service was developed in response to client requests for a turnkey approach to streaming, where the broadcaster need only operate an intuitive playlist-based console, and all technical streaming server issues, such as bandwidth management, databases and demographic reporting, are handled for him. Clients simply install a copy of Backbone Radio Pro, which runs on an Apple Macintosh, and connect to the centrally located hosting service via ordinary DSL connection. Using a portable laptop Mac, the studio may be mobile, allowing stations to cover live remote events, such as sports or awards shows.

This software, now available in Version 3.0, enables the station to create a true radio station experience for the Internet, including music, commercials, and simultaneous streaming images, text annotation and other multimedia content, including both live and pre-recorded materials. Automation schedules comprise easy-to-manage playlists, which can be automatically generated via standard rotation according to user-determined content characteristics and broadcast rules. Unlike most hosting services, Backbone Broadcast allows users to stream directly from within their station's own web site, offering the listener dynamic programming within the context of each station's unique web presentation.

Broadcasts are transmitted to the Internet via MPEG-4 streaming, and viewed by the universal QuickTime player which is available free from Apple, and is included with every copy of the popular iTunes software. This format provides the industry's highest quality audio and video in the most efficient bandwidth and storage.

Backbone Broadcast offers the hosting service in two rate plans, according to the station's intended audience patterns: steady or burstable. Broadcasters are able to access listener logs in real time via web browser to determine audience demographics and trends, as well as automatic reporting for DMCA requirements.